Artisans Village and Rural Skills Displays
Shepherding is an iconic symbol of rural life and one of many traditional countryside skills that are part of our heritage in Dumfries & Galloway. The International Sheep Dog Trials, taking place later this week, celebrates a wide span of other rural crafts and skills with displays and demonstrations throughout the three day event.
These are some of the fascinating, beautiful and utterly delicious things to see, do and experience throughout the Internationals, from the 10-12 September.
Artisans Village
2015 is Scotland’s Year of Food & Drink and arguably nowhere else does artisan food and drink quite so well as Dumfries & Galloway! Our region’s thriving network of farmers’ markets have come together to create a local food and drink spectacle, around the theme of Pies & Pints, a Vintage Tea experience (with lots of cake, naturally) and a Sweets & Treats area filled with stunning local crafts and foodie treats. You’ll find the Artisan’s Village in a group of marquees with picnic tables in the centre and ice cream close at hand!
Rural Skills Demonstrations
Every shepherd and every sheep dog handler needs a trusty Shepherds Crook, and there will be daily demonstrations of crook making to let visitors see how these elegant and practical tools are carefully shaped and perfected.
Where there are sheep there is wool! The beautiful art of spinning and weaving will be demonstrated in the craft area throughout the Trials alongside some stunning examples of wool work. Meanwhile, Mr Johnson-Ferguson will be bending metal to his will in a demonstration of blacksmith skills.
Static Displays
From 10-12 September two very different static displays will fascinate visitors to the Trials – a Dry Stone Dyking display by Jimmy Scott and a stunning display of vintage machines by Dumfries and Galloway Vintage Machinery Club with Solway Vintage Vehicle Club.
All the demonstrations, displays and Artisans Village area run throughout the full three days of the International Sheep Dog Trials.
The International Sheep Dog Trials take place on 10-12 September at Meikleholm Farm, half way between Moffat and Dumfries. Parking is free, kids go free and adult entry is only 8 pounds!
One partner. No competitors. Full visibility across the region.
One partner. No competitors. Full visibility across the region.
